Squash All Beef
- Deric Hollings
- 6 hours ago
- 7 min read
In What’s Beef? I stated, “In hip hop, a singular word encapsulates both drama and conflict: beef,” and, “In hip hop, rivalry among emcees is known as ‘beef,’ usually involving behavior whereby artists “diss” (disrespect) one another in their songs.” As well, in Beef Forever I stated:
I recently spoke with a friend (“Blanca”) about something I heard rapper Cardi B once state. In a social media clip from years ago, the rapper expressed, “A girl have beef with me, she gon’ have beef with me foreva.” […]
I know what it’s like to beef forever. I know the irrevocable consequences of irrational beliefs. My knowledge, wisdom, and understanding about mental health doesn’t stem form pretentious academic environments, pompous research projects, or self-righteous industry practices.
Thus, regarding those who are accustomed to hip hop culture, I keep it thorough when virtually meeting people where they are at. Once that connection is established, we can then discuss the process of self-disturbance and how beefin’ wit’ people foreva may not be the way to go.
Given this context regarding beef, I now turn to lyricist KRS-One’s second solo studio album, KRS-One (1995), which contained the track “Squash All Beef” that was produced by Diamond D. Also known as “Teacha,” KRS-One thusly taught his hip hop audience a lesson on beef:
Check it
All beef can be squashed if you want it
But instead of forgiveness, ego, you flaunt it
Everybody gets into two or three quarrels
Leadin’ to a squabble, someone will die tomorrow
Life is not a thing you can borrow
Will ya go out tomorrow
I think, you should think about the beef you got
And confront your enemy before it gets too hot
I apologize;” the object is to stay alive […]
Give me relief, squash all beef
Don’t let these arguments destroy us, I sing
Give me relief, squash all beef
Don’t let these arguments destroy us
When Teacha advocated confronting one’s enemy, he did so as a method of conflict resolution (the reduction of discord and friction between individuals or groups, usually through the use of active strategies, such as conciliation, negotiation, and bargaining).
As such, KRS-One recommended that people should squash (put an end to) beef (drama and conflict). When reflecting upon his invaluable lesson, I think of the psychotherapeutic modality I practice and a book that I’ve been steadily reading.
As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.
Stoics were teachers of their day, much as KRS-One has been Teacha to many within the subculture of hip hop. Representing one form of Stoic teaching, authors of The Daily Stoic quote ancient Stoic philosopher Epictetus who stated (page 196):
The beautiful and good person neither fights with anyone nor, as much as they are able, permits others to fight . . . this is the meaning of getting an education—learning what is your own affair and what is not. If a person carries themselves so, where is there any room for fighting?
Epictetus’s perspective was the antithesis to Cardi B’s cited worldview. The Stoic philosopher’s view would’ve been quite useful during the first half of my life when I often engaged in forever-beefs. About Epictetus’s outlook, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 196):
Socrates famously traveled around Athens, approaching the people he disagreed with most, and engaging them in long discussions. In these discussions—or what record we have of them—there are many examples of his conversation mates getting exasperated, upset, or aggravated by his many questions. Indeed, the people of Athens eventually got so upset, they sentenced Socrates to death.
Apparently, Socrates practiced conflict resolution centuries before I ever heard “Squash All Beef” by Teacha. Unfavorably, the ancient philosopher was ultimately put to death when others ostensibly rejected his viewpoint. Interestingly, authors of The Daily Stoic add (page 196):
Socrates never seemed to get upset himself. Even when talking about matters of life and death, he always kept his cool. He was much more interested in hearing what the other person had to say than making sure he was heard or—as most of us insist upon—winning the argument.
I’ve been a part of and witnessed many beefs which have spawned from attempts to win arguments. In urban vernacular, dunking on someone occurs when making people look foolish through use of words. Dunking often leads to beef. Sometimes, beef results in death.
Rather than carrying on such behavior, Teacha advocated squashing all beef. It would appear as though Socrates and Epictetus also recommended that people should do the same. In similar fashion, authors of The Daily Stoic helpfully recommend (page 196):
The next time you face a political dispute or a personal disagreement, ask yourself: Is there any reason to fight about this? Is arguing going to help solve anything? Would an educated or wise person really be as quarrelsome as you might initially be inclined to be? Or would they take a breath, relax, and resist the temptation for conflict? Just think of what you could accomplish—and how much better you would feel—if you could conquer the need to fight and win every tiny little thing.
When duking on people rather than squashing all beef, an individual may momentarily feel good (e.g., excitement), though this short-lived strategy may not feel so good in the long run (e.g., getting shot when beef escalates). Therefore, I advocate conflict resolution if and when possible.
Instead of feeling better, REBT seeks to help people actually get better. This means forsaking momentary good feelings for the sake of a long-term get better approach to rational living. If you’d like to know more about how to “Squash All Beef” in this regard, then I’m here to help.
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
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